From Now On 2018: Tokyo Dome on Feb 26

It was always my ultimate dream to see Shinee in Tokyo Dome. The epic stages from previous Dome concerts, the scale of 55,000 Shawols singing along - to me, it was the big kahuna and the one on my Shawol bucket list. So it is incredibly bittersweet and more poignant than ever that I attended the "From Now On" Tokyo Dome concert shortly after Jonghyun's death. Honestly, I was not hopeful that the concerts will be held after the tragedy - too soon, too raw. The fact that it did - and that Shinee modified the stages to reflect and pay tribute to their deceased beloved team member was testament to Shinee's creativity, professionalism and sheer work ethic. All the attributes that made me fall in love with the group in the first place.

Checking off the Shawol bucket list

I appreciated how they kept Jonghyun front and centre during the entire concert with a set list that seemed constructed with him in mind. Talk segments were kept simple and videos were reflective - different from the bombastic or humorous interludes we have seen in past concerts. And for those unfamiliar with the meaning of the lyrics, it is worth looking them up to see why certain songs were chosen. It was an incredibly bonding and healing experience for the Shawols in attendance - we celebrated, honored and paid tribute to Jonghyun; cried along with the members and each other, comforting each other as best as we could.

The concert was also the much anticipated return of Onew, following his hiatus after the scandal. Although he is not actively promoting in Korea just now (he did not travel with Shinee to avoid the airport fashion paparazzi), it was a joy to hear his unique and powerful voice ring out again!

The concert started with one of my favorite Japanese ballads and it immediately set the tone - Colors of the Season. It was a poetic, subdued beginning with a film showing the moon, the ocean and nature. We see a sail boat on its journey - navigating the waters of life. And then Onew's beautiful timbre comes in - "Before we knew it, today slipped into yesterday, the silent world cannot heal, you've been through a lot of pain..." It was as if the lyrics were made for our hearts - trying to make sense of it all, trying to heal and trying to move on with life - "Rainbow in the sky/is not scary so don't be afraid/we will cross it like a bridge someday...Winter, spring, summer, fall/The seasons continue to revolve/As we watch the start of a new season/I want to convey to you/That these memories and my love/Forever". Shawols that had attended the very 1st day of the "From Now On" concerts in Osaka had mentioned that Onew could not even get through this first song without crying.

Shinee then upped the performance ante by launching into Stranger as individual stage podiums began elevating, carrying each member upwards and outwards across the arena. There was an extra dance break and Taemin sang the signature high note that was Jonghyun's. The energy stayed high as they transitioned into Everybody. What was interesting to see here was that they did not bring in a dancer for the choreo that was designed for 5 people. Instead, the choreo was modified for 4 people - this instills hope in a Shawol's heart as it means they have figured out how to perform this favorite going forward. Evil was next on the list and here they did something new for the choreo - there were no individual blindfolds but dancers with sheer fabric panels were brought in, with Shinee dancing sultrily with the fabric. They finished this segment with Juliette, dancing while the glass-bottomed moving stage gradually travelled back to the main stage.

What was particularly touching about this concert was how much Jonghyun was recognized as a huge presence in Shinee and visibly a treasured friend, brother and colleague to the members. After the subdued beginning and a brief energetic interlude, a segment started where we honored, grieved and paid tribute to Jonghyun. We started with a video showing Jonghyun and various scenes of the group together which was set to Jonghyun's End of the Day - "You did a good job today/ You worked so hard". It was challenging to keep emotions in while this was playing - many Shawols were crying and sniffing - myself included.

Shinee then transitioned into Love and then a beautiful Japanese ballad Kimi ga iru Sekai/The World where you Exist. These were songs that seem to speak to the situation - "Forever kissing the moon...Even if things continue to fall apart/It's alright because I'm here/If by chance tears start to fall from your eyes/I will change your tears into sweet candles".

 This emotive segment ended with the anthem Diamond Sky which has taken on a self-explanatory momentum of its own since the tragedy - "A ring of love/in the diamond sky...these diamonds last forever". Shawols make the symbol of a circle with their thumb and forefinger during the chorus and Diamond Sky has it's own pin. Even the light stick for this concert series was in the shape of a big diamond ring!

 A brief music interlude followed (Ring Ding Dong, Ready or Not, Dynamite, Colorful) while Shinee went in for a costume change. They came out in Shinee-esque colorful suits to perform the Japanese version of Sherlock, Love Like Oxygen, Hello and To Your Heart which was a Japanese album track from "The First". Again, the iconic choreography of Sherlock was modified slightly for 4 people - at times, it did look a bit unbalanced but I think that was deliberate. Shinee have been vocal about how Shinee is FIVE people and Jonghyun always being their 5th member.

 Then came the most uplifting segment of the concert, literally. As the Dome is so large, there is always a segment where Shinee goes out to the arena to get closer to their fans. While singing Dazzling Girl, Onew and Key got onto individual carts that took them around the arena floor. Minho and Taemin got into separate hot air balloons (!) that floated up and closer to the stadium seats. This was a great idea which allowed fans in the higher stadium or balcony seats to see the members - it was also an association to the Lucky Star music video which is of course what happened next! By then, Onew and Key had returned to the main stage and were dancing with the wooden blocks that spelt out "LUCKY STAR". Onew turned the "R" block to "Y" so that it spelt out "STAY" and did Taemin's Danger "angled dive" key move. A lovely fan moment to those that saw it.

 After another costume change, Shinee came out in red military-style costumes and hit an energy high with Hitchhiking, complete with pyrotechnics and fire, followed by Why So Serious and Kimi no Sei De. Shinee came out to perform Lucifer after the 1st encore. Then it was a beautiful rendition of Sing Your Song where the audience sang rounds of the main chorus acapella "Sing, Sing a Song/Sing, Sing a Song, Sing it / Love, so just keep on singing now". Again, the lyrics of this song resonated with the occasion - "Love - when you part with someone/Continues to become even bigger.../You, I'm glad to have met you/You, I want to sing with you". It was followed by one of their lovely Japanese ballads with intricate harmonies that I'm fond of - they went with I'm with You - "Baby don't cry/I'm by your side/I'm sending you my voice/baby my love love love/So you can try dry your tears/You are not alone any longer".

There was a brief talking segment where every individual Shinee member spoke - they thanked the Shawols, admitted they were scared and dreaded this concert, expressed how precious Jonghyun was to them and asked us to remember Jonghyun forever.

 A new jazz-infused song called Every Time was next and then it was Replay - their debut song, carrying all the bittersweet memories of their start 10 years ago. As the opening bars played, Shawols sang "Shinee/Shinee/Shinee" repeatedly. I attended the concert on the 1st day of Tokyo Dome so there was no fan event. However, on the last day of Tokyo Dome, this was the song in which the Shawols revealed "5hinee Forever" in yellow amongst the pearl aqua ocean of lights.

 Fittingly, it was the final song that delivered the emotional powerhouse of the night - for the audience as well as the members who cried a few times throughout. "From Now On" is a new song - an epic ballad with soaring strings. With the whole Dome cloaked in darkness (not even our nightsticks shone), the stage shone 5 spotlights on 5 mic stands. Onew, Taemin, Minho and Key stood at each stand but no one took the center - this was Jonghyun's place. There was a single red rose attached to his stand. Shinee were dressed in white suits like contemporary angels with a single red rose in their breast pocket. The song was recorded with Jonghyun's vocal and when his beautiful silky voice rang out, it was a heart-wrenching moment. As the song ended, Shinee left their love for Jonghyun by attaching their red rose onto their mic stand, as they walked away from their spotlight and into darkness.

 "Never forget Jonghyun" - Choi Minho, From Now On 2018 concert, February 27, 2018, Tokyo Dome